Sue Garrard is one of the world’s leading experts on sustainable business. As Unilever’s former EVP of Sustainable Business, she was instrumental in embedding purpose into strategy. Today she advises global organisations on how to align sustainability with performance and growth.
Sue Garrard is a globally respected thought leader on sustainable business strategy. Best known for her role as Executive Vice President of Sustainable Business and Communications at Unilever, she helped to embed purpose and sustainability at the heart of one of the world’s most influential companies. Today, she works with some of the most recognised organisations worldwide, advising on how to harness sustainability as a driver of growth and resilience.
Personally selected by Paul Polman, then CEO of Unilever, Sue spent eight years shaping and delivering the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP). She oversaw its 70-plus time-bound targets and established sustainability as a key factor in brand performance, with Unilever’s “sustainable living brands” growing significantly faster than the rest of the portfolio. She was also part of the four-person executive team that successfully rebuffed the hostile Kraft Heinz takeover bid.
Sue’s career spans senior leadership roles across public and private sectors. Before Unilever, she was Director General for Customer Strategy and Communications at the Department for Work and Pensions, leading initiatives during the global recession to minimise long-term unemployment and address pensioner poverty. She also held board-level roles in marketing, communications and public affairs, including at AMV and Fishburn Hedges.
Her current consultancy clients include Mars, Danone, Primark, O2, Lloyds Bank, Natura and the Royal Horticultural Society. Both Primark and the RHS launched sustainability plans based on her work.
Sue is a clear, authoritative and engaging speaker who draws on practical experience and hard-won lessons from both government and business. She speaks with conviction about how organisations can embed purpose into their DNA, build cultures that embrace sustainability, and turn ambitious targets into tangible outcomes. Audiences appreciate her ability to balance strategic vision with pragmatic, actionable insights.
…
Mary Robinson is a former President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, widely recognised for her leadership in climate justice and human rights. She was Ireland’s first female president, and has since built a global career as a lawyer, academic and international advocate. Her keynote presentations explore climate change, gender equality, responsible leadership and global cooperation, offering audiences a clear and human perspective on some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Solitaire Townsend is a globally recognised sustainability expert, TED speaker and keynote speaker who helps organisations turn climate change into a story of action, creativity and possibility. As co-founder and Chief Solutionist at Futerra, she works with influential organisations to activate positive and optimistic change, giving business leaders a clearer way to approach sustainability, climate action and long-term impact.
Christiana Figueres is a Costa Rican diplomat, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and an internationally recognised leader on global climate change. Best known for helping secure the historical Paris Agreement, she inspires audiences with lessons in collaborative diplomacy, climate leadership and stubborn optimism.
Bertrand Piccard is a Swiss explorer, psychiatrist and clean technology pioneer known for turning ambitious ideas into world-changing missions. For event hosts looking for a Bertrand Piccard speaker with real authority on innovation, sustainability and leadership, he brings an unusual mix of scientific credibility, adventurous thinking and business relevance.
Alex Edmans is Professor of Finance at London Business School and one of the clearest voices on responsible business, corporate finance and behavioural finance. For event hosts looking for a speaker with real credibility, he brings a rare mix of academic research, practical business experience and genuine clarity on stage.
Gonzalo Muñoz, appointed UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP25 by Chile’s President in 2019, is a pioneering leader in sustainability. He co-led the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience campaigns as Climate Champion. Book Gonzalo Muñoz as a keynote speaker for your next event!
John Thackara is a writer, curator and leading voice on sustainable futures. He connects design with daily life, clean growth and mental wellbeing, sharing real-world stories from cities and bioregions. He helps diverse partners build lasting ecological relationships, publishes at thackara.com, and speaks at conferences, corporate events and arts festivals.
Two voices, one mission. Via Carpenter and Jeff Furman bring decades of trial, error and a shared passion for justice, good business and rock & roll. Different generations, similar values, plenty of laughs and a clear focus on outcomes for your audience.
Zoë Arden is a purpose-led leadership and communications expert specialising in storytelling for influence and sustainable change. A Fellow at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, she helps senior leaders translate complex sustainability challenges into clear strategy, confident leadership and action that delivers lasting business and societal impact.
Dive into political science and global politics with Ian Bremmer, founder of Eurasia Group and a leading expert in the field. Known for making complex international issues easy to understand, he offers clear, independent insights into global risks and their impact on the economy.
